I've been debating about posting this question or not because there's the part of me that thinks I am probably just being paranoid...but since I still have another week before I see the doctor for a second Lumbar Sympathetic block (LSB).

I got my real first LSB a year ago...with no relief except that the coldness and color changes in my ankle decreased...something I didn't even realize at the time but only looking back on it. Anway...new doc now and he wants to do a series of LSBs and I'm game to try since he really thinks it will work. Got my first one 2 weeks ago and...surprise...it actually helped with the pain in my ankle. Not super significant...but went from a 9/10 down to a 7/8 for a few days. Now the pain is back to where it was...but any relief is promising.

Anyway...my concern is that my back is still REALLY sore after 2 weeks which I don't remember happening last time. Soreness I felt like I could deal with. But I found out after I had the block (as in later that day) that I had a MRSA infection. Went on antibiotics that day...but since I had my physical the Thursday before my LSB on Monday...suffice to say I had had it for a while before the block. But now I'm feeling these sharp pains all over my body (feel like they're deep...in the bone sort of pains). My neck is sore...back is red hot...and I have had a severe headache for a few days now.

I think all these things are probably unrelated to one another...but does it ring a bell for anyone as something that I should be concerned about? I tried researching complications for a LSB but couldn't get very far because mostly I just find stuff that says exactly what my doc gave me and that stuff doesn't say anything about what types of symptoms to be concerned about.

So am I just freaking out for nothing? I'm certainly in a lot of pain that I DIDN'T have before and would like to know if it's related to a LSB since I am getting another one in a week. Or are these things all just seperate little issues that I should just suck it up and deal with until they pass?

Wow, you poor thing! I don't know if you've seen this link, and I guess this post is obsolete now, but at the bottom of the page on the link it says not to have the block done if you have an active infection. Hope this might help you or somebody else, and I hope you're doing better now.

http://www.rsdhope.org/Showpage.asp?...4&PGCT_ID=3763

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately the doc decided to go ahead with a second block and it caused all the problems I was having to increase exponentially and added a number of very scary problems as well. Still trying to get a diagnosis as to what is wrong with me...but hope I am on the right track now and this next doc will have an answer. They think the trauma of the block triggered all these new things and triggered some other condition which has yet to be diagnosed. I guess it just goes to show that things can always get worse so be happy with what you've got while you've got it. But am definitely changing pain docs because I don't think he should have done the second block after the first one cause those initial problems...but he did and that is in the past now. I'm just scared by all these new symptoms and I think it will probably be 4 weeks at least until I have a diagnosis and I just hate being in limbo not knowing what the problem is...

But I am keeping my chin up and I know that I WILL get better...it's just going to take a while. But all this has definitely been a learning experience as far as how I need to be the one taking control of my doc appointments and not just let them make all the decisions for me.

I don't know....if it were me, I would want to rule out ongoing infection. I don't like hearing MRSA. Get appropriate labs done now, infection moves fast. If infection is a serious consideration, bone scan and MRI.

Hi there! I don't like how your symptoms sound either and agree with the other poster to make sure you don't have an ongoing infection. My pain mgt doc will not do any type of procedures if there have been any type of infection or antibiotic therapy for 3 weeks....it's too risky. Please take care of yourself.

Rhonda

I don't get some doctors. When I had my block and it increased my pain level my pain doctor did not want to do any more invasive for time to let my nerves settle down.
I know being in limbo is hard. I hope you can find someone to help you and also get a proper dx.

We've done blood tests to rule out ongoing infection...though MRSA is the sort of thing that goes into remission and then pops up again later (this is my second time with it and my BF is dealing with his 6th occurance of it right now). But my "sed rate" is off the charts high which the neurologist said means either infection or inflammation. He's going with inflammation but after everything else I HAD to ask about the infection thing and he said my new symptoms just don't match an infection...but are in line with many inflammation conditions. I trust his gut so I'm following the "inflammation theory" of his.

We're trying to get me in to see a rheumetologist right now but neither the doc's office or I have been able to even get a call back after leaving messages. Meanwhile...I'm in a LOT of pain and am freaking out a bit at not having at least an appointment scheduled for the new doc. I mean...even if it was 4 weeks away at least I would KNOW when it was, right?

But it is what it is...there are things over which I have no control and I just need to not worry so much about them. But having no relief for the pain except sleep...when my entire upper body is sensitive to the touch and extremely puffy all the way from my neck to my upper thighs is scary and I am reaching the end of what I can handle. I hope they figure something out soon...